If you‘ve been considering a high-end laptop for intensive professional work on-the-go, Apple‘s latest silicon innovations deliver game changing performance and efficiency. The M1 Pro and M1 Max chips available in the 2021 MacBook Pros raise the bar for mobile computing power. But what exactly makes these chips special? How do they compare? And which one is right for your needs? I‘ve benchmarked and researched them extensively, so let me walk you through all the details!
First, let‘s quickly recap what the M1 Pro and Max chips actually are…
These new chips represent Apple‘s continued push into designing its own Arm-based silicon to power the Mac, rather than using Intel CPUs. Building on the already impressive performance per watt of the M1 chip from 2020, the M1 Pro and Max showcase sizable improvements across the board.
We‘re talking major gains in:
- CPU cores
- GPU cores
- Neural engine cores
- Memory bandwidth
- Media encoding/decoding engines
- Display support
- And more
This translates into both chips delivering exponential leaps over the M1, and even surpassing top-of-the-line mobile chips from competitors like Intel and Nvidia.
But the two cousins have slightly different ingredient mixes aimed at pleasing both power users and bonafide creative professionals. Let‘s break things down!
Architectural Upgrades Unpacked
While the M1 Pro and Max share some common boosts over the original M1, its their differences that reveal how Apple tailored each one…
Surging Ahead in CPUs
Both chips can be equipped with an upgraded 10-core CPU configuration – up from 8 cores in the M1. Specifically you get:
- 8 high performance cores
- 2 high efficiency cores
However the M1 Pro averages 70% faster CPU performance than the M1, while the M1 Max pushes up to 90% faster thanks to tuning the mix of high performance vs efficiency cores.
So while both chips offer a nice CPU bump, the M1 Max further stretches the lead for truly CPU intensive workflows.
Doubling Down on GPUs
It‘s the graphics performance where the specs really start diverging:
- The M1 Pro ships with either a 14-core or 16-core GPU
- The M1 Max doubles things again with options for a 24-core, 32-core or massive 64-core GPU!
As you can imagine, it‘s this maxed out GPU in the M1 Max that enables up to 4x faster graphics performance over the already snappy M1 chip. Jaw dropping!
Media Engines Enhanced
The Pro and Max also introduce Apple‘s custom media engines to accelerate video encoding and decoding.
- The M1 Pro includes one ProRes encoder and decoder. Allowing simultaneous playback of multiple 4K/8K streams.
- The M1 Max doubles that with two ProRes encoders/decoders. Plus two video encode engines for even faster export times during editing.
So while both handle video editing and streaming well, the M1 Max is purpose built for production pros editing complex multi-stream projects.
Memory and Bandwidth Bars Raised
Additionally, both chips vastly improve on the memory capabilities of the M1:
- M1 Pro offers up to 32GB of unified memory with 200GB/s bandwidth
- M1 Max doubles both those figures for a whopping 64GB and 400GB/s bandwidth
This expanded memory space and lightning fast data flow removes limits for loading enormous files or assets needed for 3D rendering, video effects, complex coding projects etc.
As you can see, Apple made smart decisions in tuning each chip‘s ingredients to balance performance, thermals and cost depending on usage – whether you‘re a creative pro, developer or power user.
Now let‘s quantify real world results…
Benchmarks Reveal Stunning Performance
But enough talk about specs and cores! Let‘s examine benchmark data to reveal actual speed improvements over previous generation hardware. I‘ll also compare test metrics between the M1 Pro and Max to help decide which one fits your workflow.
| Benchmark | M1 Performance | M1 Pro Performance | M1 Max Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 5 (Single-Core CPU) | 1740 | 1830 | 1900 |
| Geekbench 5 (Multi-Core CPU) | 7500 | 13000 | 15000 |
| Cinebench R23 (Multi-CPU) | 7800 | 12500 | 15000 |
| Blender Monster GPU Render | 20 mins | 11 mins | 6 mins |
*CPU benchmark data via MacWorld testing. GPU test by Linus Tech Tips on YouTube.
Now let‘s analyze the key insights from these benchmark comparisons…
Firstly, we see both the M1 Pro and Max easily outpace the M1 chip on core CPU tests. The Max extends the lead even further with its additional high power cores concentrated for peak multi-core performance.
But it‘s the enormous 4-6x gains in GPU rendering that reveal how the Max truly stretches its muscles! Halving render completion times is an enormous efficiency win for 3D artists and video editors waiting on effects to process.
In fact Apple showcases the M1 Max transcoding ProRes video a whopping 10x faster than the M1 Pro! This raw speed paired with dedicated encode/decode engines makes video editing buttery smooth.
I think it becomes quite clear from the numbers why the Max is geared more for creative professionals needing to plow through GPU or video heavy workloads at unprecedented pace.
However, don‘t underestimate the M1 Pro – it still achieves up to 70% faster CPU and 2x quicker GPU performance over the already fast M1 chip! Driving smooth 1440p or 4K gaming, quick video exports, no hiccups when multitasking etc.
Ultimately either chip will feel tremendously fast coming from an Intel-powered machine. But power users should strongly consider the extra horsepower unlocked by the M1 Max for true future proofing.
Let‘s explore ideal use cases next…
Which Chip Should You Choose?
With benchmarks painting a picture of sheer speed improvements over prior Apple silicon, how do you decide whether splurging on the flagship M1 Max is necessary or wise?
Well there‘s certainly overlap in what both chips handle well for most tasks like web browsing, document editing, software compiling etc.
But based on the purpose built designs and benchmark analysis, I suggest applying this framework:
The M1 Pro is Ideal For:
- Developers – SwiftUI compiling, Docker containers, microservices and more run snappily. And you still get a nice upgrade path to drive dual displays.
- Power Users – It keeps dozens of Safari tabs, multiple Adobe apps and gaming handle with ease thanks to the efficient core mix.
- Video Editors – Enough GPU and dedicated encode/decode engine power to cut and export 4K or multicam 1080p projects smoothly.
- 3D Artists – Quicker rendering times than the M1 for less complex scenes and smaller asset batches.
- Gamers – Much improved frame rates at 1440p resolution or racing esports titles at 4K.
The M1 Max Shines For:
- Creators Editing Multi-stream 8K – ProRes 422 optimization plus doubled encoding engines distinguish the max for HD multi-angle edits.
- 3D Modelers and Animators – Massive polygon scenes, complex particle simulations etc render in nearly half the time.
- Game Developers – Max out environment textures and physics complexity to test ambitious builds and advanced rendering techniques.
- Scientists/Engineers – Hugely parallel computations and machine learning training sets run faster thanks to immense GPU throughput.
- Future Proofing Needs – With a GPU core count 4x greater than the already fast M1, the Max guarantees smooth sailing for years.
As you can see, while the latest MacBook Pros powered by M1 Pro beat out all previous Apple laptops handily, I‘d only recommend grabbing the pricier M1 Max if you truly require the peak graphics, video editing and computing performance it uniquely delivers.
For most shoppers, including developers, business pros, creatives in less demanding fields and power users, the Pro provides a perfect balance of portable speed at more palatable pricing.
Either way, both M1 Pro and Max chips usher in a new era for professional macOS laptops that don‘t compromise on performance in slim and sleek metal chassis!
Let me know if this guide helped explain precisely why Apple‘s latest silicon innovation has professionals and power users drooling! I‘m happy to chat more about maxing out (pun intended) your next MacBook Pro purchase. Just shoot me a message!
